oil filter substitute

[alpapale]

I have a late model Volvo-Penta motor which has a GM 4.3 liter block. I can easily cross reference the oil filter to a Fram or AC-Delco, etc. since the GM 4.3 liter is a common motor. The automotive filters have the same thread and diameter, but are also a little longer which will actually help me whem installing and removing. I figure I can spend the same money on a Fram tough-guard or equivalent higher grade filter then what the Dealer wants for a OMC or volvo-penta standard issue filter. Any problem going this way?

 

[jrbpit1]

Re: oil filter substitute

Stay away from Fram. Go with AC Delco.

 

[Mike M2]

Re: oil filter substitute

Car filter will work just fine.

 

[SeaRay245]

Re: oil filter substitute

u can use the car filters ive used them on every i/o that ive had some places even carry a 2qt one for stock cars gives u extra oil capacity and extra filteration but as i read someone else said also STAY AWAY FROM FRAM !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[petryshyn]

Re: oil filter substitute

Don't know if you should stay away from *ram.....but I'd recommend staying away from filters with teflon built in, or any teflon additive packages for that matter.<br />-when choosing a filter, I'd be looking to see if it has a check valve in it(especially for horizontal applic.)and what micron it filters down to.(how small a chunk it holds back). I don't remember off hand, but it seems to me, if you knew 'who made who's' filters, you'd laugh.<br />

 

[oar master]

Re: oil filter substitute

that's right. there's a couple different brands out there that are , u guessed it, made by fram. i can't think of the names right now. also, mobil makes a high quality filter.

 

[alpapale]

Re: oil filter substitute

Thanks guys for the advice, and I was not going near anyting with Teflon as schematic had recommended. BUT what's the deal with FRAM anyway?

 

[petryshyn]

Re: oil filter substitute

One more thing I forgot to mention. Oil filters have a shelf life(Expiration date) If you go beyond this, the glue used to bond the paper to the metal housing dries up and cracks allowing full bypass and no filtration. What a way to get a bad reputation(bad rap).......have someone sell an old outdated filter.<br /><br />Just a thought....

 

[DP]

Re: oil filter substitute

I have wholesaled Purolator, Fram and Sierra oil filters for years and have never seen a problem with any of them. <br /><br />Have never heard of a shelf life though or seen an expiration date on any filter.<br /><br />There are a lot of good quality filters on the market, made by just a few manufacturers. It's not uncommon to see a half dozen different filter brands going down side by side production lines. Stay away from the cheapies and buy top of the line, you only change the oil once a year so what's a couple bucks more for the best filter.

 

[petryshyn]

Re: oil filter substitute

Ditto.....Ditto on the cheap!<br />Baldwin date codes their filters.(laser encoded) They make filters for many retailers....Wix, Napa, and I believe Fram at one time.(many more) Don't quote me on this, but I think its a 60 month expirery. Even if it failed, you'd probably never know..........

 

[jrbpit1]

Re: oil filter substitute

I read on other automotive boards that Fram has had big time quality control problems and design flaws in their filters. Fram had big problems in the filter they sold for the Ford 2.5L V6 that is in the Contour and the Mazda MPV. The best filters out there are the K&N but, I have a hard time forking over 15 bucks for an oil filter. My next door neighbor is a master tech at a Lincoln-Mercury Mazda dealer and he tells me to stick with the OEM filters, oil, & air. He's a pretty smart guy so I have switched back to the Motorcraft FL1A on my old Mercury and the OEM AC-Delco filter on my Astro Van. Just my opinion, I could be wrong.

 

[Clay]

Re: oil filter substitute

Do you guys know that Quicksilver uses 50 micron filter paper in their oil filters which means that no particle larger than 50 microns will pas through the filter. Whereas<br />your standard car filter uses 100 micron paper. Which one would you use. I'll spend the extra 3 or 4 bucks for a marine filter

 

[Boatin Bob]

Re: oil filter substitute

I totally agree with Cootie, I only change my filter once a year feel the extra couple of bucks are worth buying the proper marine filter, there are lots of other places where you can save a few bucks. In case you're interested here is a link to a sight where someone has pput a lot time and effort into doing an oil filter study, rread it and draw your own conclusions, especially about one called FR?? web]http://www.scuderiaciriani.com/rx7/oil_filter_study/[URL=http://www.scuderiaciriani.com/rx7/oil_filter_study/]web page[/URL]

 

[Boatin Bob]

Re: oil filter substitute

That posting with the link didn't work too good so I'll try againweb page

 

[alpapale]

Re: oil filter substitute

Hey Boatin Bob,<br /><br />Great reference. An actual study with real data and no hype. Since I'm an engineer, I can appreciate what kind of work goes into a study such as this. Based on this info, AC-delco appears to be in control of their product, but the Mopar brand is pot luck. One question I have for you then why don't you think that marine manufactures get their filters made from the oem's as Auto manufactures do. How can you be sure it’s not also a game of pot luck?

 

[alpapale]

Re: oil filter substitute

Hey Cootie: <br /><br />AC Delco Filters: (from their Web site):<br /><br />AC Delco "Duraguard Silver" Filter Traps 15 microns particules;<br /><br />Ac Delco "Ultra Gold" 8 -10 Microns.

 

[petryshyn]

Re: oil filter substitute

Let me stir the pot a little bit!!!!!<br /><br />I'm going hunting, so all the smoke will have cleared by time I get back!!<br /><br />Is smaller better?<br />Heck, put on a hydraulic filter(if you dare!!). Its down around 2-4 microns.<br /><br />Too small filtration > plugs faster > early bypass > no filtration > engine wear<br /><br />I'd stay with OEM recommendation on microns.

 

[Boatin Bob]

Re: oil filter substitute

Alpapale....I hear you but I had been using FRAM for the last couple of years and I talked with an OMC dealer (I have a couple of 460's with Cobra drives) and I was mentioning my flaky oil pressure problems. He asked what kind of oil filters I used and when I told him Fram's he suggested I not use them but to either try another brand or even OMC's, something about the valve inside. So this fall when I changed my oil I put OMC's on, will se next spring if there was anything to that, worse case is I spent $3 extra per filter.

 

[Clay]

Re: oil filter substitute

1 micron or 100 microns, heres the way I see it. If I go look at a used boat and it has a automotive filter on it I'll walk away. Whos to say this guy did'nt use marine grade wire for the accessories he installed or marine grade ss screws or marine grade anything. If you figure out how much money you save by using non marine grade products I'll bet it's less than 50 bucks. A boat is a huge investment(if you want to call it that)and I'll spend the extra money as not to jeopardise the integrity of my boat. You may not notice any problems but the guy you sell it to may. Maybe the marine industries<br />are jerking us around but I'll keep spending the extra money. It gives me piece of mind<br />knowing I'm using recommended products. And if you buy a boat from me be restassured everything on it is marine grade.<br />There, I spent my two cents

 

[alpapale]

Re: oil filter substitute

Cootie,<br /><br />Cootie,<br /><br />It's your two cents or fifty bucks or whatever, but for me I'm not the trusting type. Just because it's says OMC on it doesn't mean it's good, bad or in-different. If you read the link that Boatin Bob provided us you can see what Mopar (Chysler) does. They buy filters from whoever meets their requirements and price at the time it's put up for bid. OMC does the same thing. I used to be in electronic service business and I saw lots of units that were made by someone else other than the name on the front cover. V.C.R's were known for this big time. If you were educated at what you were buying, you could get a good deal or at least not get ripped off. This allegiance to name brands only goes so far for me. I don't trust "name brands" as being any better unless they're proven. I have nothing against OMC or anybody else, but they're not in the oil filter business just like they're not in the oil business. (We've discussed the oil thing, especially two-stroke oil to death on these boards in the past.) They're in the business to make money and that's OK. But I'm in the business to keep from spending money unless it's worth it. Data, statistics and experience go a lot further for me then the name on the side of the can unless that name represents something I know. Maybe OMC oil filters are the best, do we know? <br /><br />As far as selling my boat, I just got it this year and I’m not planning on selling it for a long time, if ever. In the mean time I want to protect it just like you want to protect your boat. I want to use the best filter for the money I can. I not going to assume that just because the filter has a name on it associated with the marine industry and “it costs a few bucks more” that it means it’s good. That’s why I started this thread in the first place. I wanted to learn. If someone said that OMC (or another brand) is made exclusive for marine application and it’s one of the better filters, then I would consider it. My guess is that it’s made by one of the three or four manufactures that make automotive oil filters…maybe FRAM.